MHS mauls Mount Carmel School

Marianas High School clobbered Mount Carmel School, 63-27, in the varsity division of the 2013-2014 Marianas Interscholastic Sports Organization Boys Basketball League last Friday night at the MHS Gymnasium.

The Dolphins read well the Knights very predictable offense, holding Mt. Carmel to single-digit scoring in the first three quarters en route to the 36-point winning margin and their third win in as many games. The Knights fell to a 0-3 record, as it failed to draw a solid game from William Camacho.

Camacho was the Mt. Carmel’s go-to-guy in the first two games where he averaged close to 30 points (29.5) and against MHS, he made all the moves to buy baskets, but was frustrated by the different Dolphins defenders coach Preston Basa assigned to him. With Camacho bleeding for points, the entire Mt. Carmel offense was disarray as the Knights were either called for 24-second shot clock violations or rushed last-minutes shots on several occasions.

The Knights, who had their best showing early in the game, forcing a deadlock, 6-all, were nearly limited to 2 points in the entire second quarter if not for Enrico Del Rosario, who stole the ball from MHS in the closing seconds and sprinted to their front court for a buzzer-beating layup.

With Mt. Carmel making only 4 points in the second canto, the Dolphins turned a close 12-8 lead at the end of the first frame to a 34-12 halftime advantage. The lead ballooned in the second quarter, as MHS completed its tough defense on Mt. Carmel’s gunners with a balance offense from its much deeper roster. Basa used all his 12 players in the first half and only one missed making it to the scoreboard.

The Dolphins continued to kill the Knights with their even scoring, while baskets were hard to come by for the latter. Mt. Carmel got its first basket in the second half at the 5:31 mark of the third off William Camacho’s split free throw, while Del Rosario added a triple for the Knights’ lone field goal in that match. Another split free throw from Min Su Kim ended the third canto, but not the Knights’ miseries, as MHS took a commanding 38-17 lead.

Finally in the fourth canto, the Knights broke into double figures, drilling 10 points, as the Dolphins loosened up a bit on defense, but still waltzed their way to a big winning margin.
Kobe Mendoza top-scored for MHS with his 14 points, while his eight other teammates added at least two baskets apiece. Alfonso Evangelista had 8 to lead Mt. Carmel, which drew a dismal 4-point production from Camacho.

Meanwhile, MHS was also victorious in the junior varsity game last Friday after downing Saipan International School, 48-39.

The Dolphins improved to a 2-0 record, while SIS dropped to a 0-3 card.
Ignacio Borja and Aaron Pamintuan teamed up in MHS JV’s win, scoring 16 and 10 points, respectively, while SIS’ Christopher Cepeda led all scorers with his 18 markers.

Cepeda and Johnson kept the Geckos afloat in the first period, 11-12, making 5 and 6 points, respectively, but could not get help from their teammates in the remaining three quarters, allowing MHS to widen the gap.

First Game
MHS 48 – Borja 16, Pamintuan 10, Manalili 7, Benavente 5, Edralin 3, Cristobal 3, De Guzman 2, Deocares 2.
SIS 39 – C. Cepeda 18, Johnson 8, H. Kim 6, Y. Kim 6, A. Cepeda 1.
Scoring by quarters: 12-11, 25-17, 37-23, 48-39.

Second Game
MHS 63 – Mendoza 14, Malonzo 9, Factor 8, Espinosa 6, Arciaga 6, Cayading 6, Kwon 4, Ano 4, Gabaldon 4, Capuyon 2.
MCS 27 – Evangelista 8, Del Rosario 5, Camacho 4, Kim 3, Sablan 3, Kwon 2, Amog 2.
Scoring by quarters: 12-8, 34-12, 48-17, 63-27.